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Honey bee publish details |
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NIF |
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NIF 5th Competition |
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Fireflies of Creativity (part-I) |
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| Abstract |
In its 5th Biennial Campaign, NIF received more than 37000 ideas, innovations and traditional knowledge practices from more than 31 states and Union Territories. More than 90 percent were of course herbal entries. The awards for herbal entries are subject to the condition that the claims have been scientifically validated. Limited resources have not made it possible for NIF to screen tens of thousands of such practices, despite enormous potential existing for the same. The motivations of innovators vary from solving their own problems to addressing the problems of communities and other people. Every award signifies a determination on the part of a person or a community to transcend the constraints rather than submitting to them. We look forward to hearing from readers if they know of examples of similar creativity in their neighbourhood or otherwise, or if they wish to join the value chain around some of these ideas.
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| Details |
Mechanical and Electronics
Laxmi Asu Machine (National-1)
Andhra Pradesh: Mallesham (36, high school) developed an automatic Asu machine to alleviate the pain of his mother. In the ‘Tie & Dye’ silk saree tradition of Pochampalli variety, a hand winding process of yarn is required before weaving various patterns on the loom. This is a very tedious and cumbersome process and involves to and fro moving of the hand, nine thousand times in a span of four-five hours. This way, Mallesham could do Asu for just two sarees a day, which didn’t fetch sufficient means to his family. Therefore Mallesham innovated a device to mechanize this process and relieve people, especially women, from the drudgery involved. His machine is capable of doing Asu for eight sarees per day, and makes possible a wider variety of designs in sarees. Read the detailed account in HB 19(3): 4-6, 2008, about how Mallesham brought about a social and financial revolution with his innovation.
Sanitary Napkin Making-Machine: An Opportunity for Women Entrepreneurship (National-2)
Tamil Nadu: A Muruganantham (47, high school) discontinued his studies after SSLC to work and support his family financially. He displayed a keen interest in science and astronomy during his formative years and won an award in a school Science exhibition for developing a chicken incubator.
Muruganantham was moved by his wife’s justification of using old clothes. She said, that if ladies at home purchase sanitary napkins, they might have to cut their budget for milk. That was when he decided to design a machine that produces quality sanitary napkins at a low cost. His machine requires four persons to produce two napkins per minute. Costing less than half of conventional options, this machine produces sanitary pads at Rs.1 to Rs. 1.50 per pad approximately.
Muruganantham has also designed a coin based napkin vending machine. With the support from the MVIF scheme of NIF, and some other support, the innovator has been able to install over eighty units across the country. He has received support from other sources as well.
Bamboo Processing Machinery, Hydro-Electric Generators, Water Pumps and others (National-3)
Nagaland: Imli Toshi Namo (28, graduate) always had a keen interest in automobile machinery, which led him to develop many of his innovations. Bamboo needs to be stripped off its outer covering for developing smooth surface to make interior decoration items and utility articles like cups, pen stands, etc. Doing the job manually is time consuming and laborious. The machine developed by Toshi can do all the operations like removing the outer knots, smoothening the surface, internal/external carving and finishing. The machine has soft touch joystick controlled operating system which facilitates precision in operation. It costs approx. Rs. 150,000. One unit has even been purchased by the Nagaland Bamboo Mission. Using bamboo powder, which is a by-product of this machine, he developed a composite material, which he used in building up small electric hydro generator and low-cost bamboo wall.
Toshi received a consolation award from NIF in the 4th Competition for his hydro-powered pump for irrigation. Among his other innovations, some of the notable ones are weed-uprooter for hilly region, egg-boiler and hot-water filter, incense stick making machine and others. NIF has extended financial support to Toshi for the development and dissemination of a few of his technologies.
Farm Machinery and Food Processing Technologies
Onion Transplanter (National-2)
Maharashtra: Pandarinath Sarjerao More (66, graduate), a farmer and an innovator, has developed solutions in the areas of farm implements, agriculture machinery, electrical systems, horticulture, low cost housing, rainwater harvesting and water conditioning systems.
The task of transplanting onion seedlings manually is a time consuming, labour intensive and toilsome process. More, has developed an affordable, semi-automatic transplanter which can perform three functions at a time viz. transplanting the onion seedling, applying the fertilizer and making the furrows for irrigation channels. What is most remarkable about More is that he made his innovative design of onion transplanter, an open source technology. He says: “The knowledge I have is a gift of God. God does not patent his knowledge. Why should I get a patent over his gift? Let this knowledge be accessible to all.”
Pomegranate De-Seeder, Areca Nut Peeler, Bamboo Splitting Machine and others (National-3)
Assam: Uddab Bharali (45, college dropout) is a serial innovator, who has set up a research workshop to help local communities and innovators solve their problems. He has developed a pomegranate de-seeder, which separates the outer cover and thin inner membrane of the fruit without crushing the seeds. It has the capacity to de-seed 50-55 kg pomegranate per hour. The machine has been exported to Turkey and USA, facilitated by NIF. Annoyed by the injuries caused while peeling the areca nuts manually, he developed an areca nut peeling machine with a capacity of peeling 100-120 nuts per minute. NIF facilitated the technology licensing to entrepreneurs in Assam and Karnataka respectively. He has also developed bamboo processing machinery that can perform operations like splitting long lengths of bamboo, sizing, surface finishing and polishing. These bamboo processing machines have been installed with
the help of NIF in CFC (Common Facility Centre) of the NERCRMP (North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project) at North Cachar hills. His cassava peeler can process up to one kg of cassava in a minute. The innovator has also developed garlic peeling machine, tobacco leaf cutter, paddy thresher, safed musli peeling machine, jatropha de-seeder, fruit juice extractor, trench digger, chopper for cattle and fisheries feed, portable dheki and other innovations. Bharali has been supported under the MVIF scheme of NIF and other schemes for product development. Bharali received SRISTI Sanman in 2006 for his areca nut peeling machine and other innovations.
Farm Vehicle that Goes Round and other innovations (National-3)
Gujarat: Bachubhai Thesia (57, high school) is a farmer and also repairs electronic equipments. He has crafted more than 25 innovations out of which automotive operating and controlling system (360 degree rotating tractor) is the most remarkable one. The innovative system comprises the engagement (tightening of belt) and disengagement (loosening of belt) on pulleys to perform the functions, which has been able to give the tractor very small turning radius, enabling it to rotate easily at 360 degrees. The innovator has increased the life of a commonly available bulb by inserting a small circuit in it so that it can tolerate wider voltage fluctuations. This bulb also has the owner’s name signed in the inner glass tube. He has also developed a herbal rust remover, which is very useful to unscrew rusted nuts and bolts. Read HB 19(1):8-11, 2008 to explore how Bachubhai, a self-taught inventor and innovator engaged in designing different devices.
Transport
Reversible Reduction Gear for Marine Diesel Engine and Z- Drive Propeller (National-2)
Kerala: B Mohanlal (52, high school) is an accomplished boat mechanic and technician. He developed skills in repairing fishing vessels while working at his uncle’s workshop and then started his own workshop for the same. Mohanlal observed that diesel engines or petrol-start-diesel-run engines are inadequate to handle various operational modes of the fishing vessels. The kerosene run engines consume more fuel and pollute the water affecting marine life adversely. Moreover, beach landing is very difficult using the conventional inboard marine diesel engines. After rigorous research and development for several years, Mohanlal could develop a gearbox and a manually tiltable Z-drive system for small capacity diesel engines to overcome the above problems. He could optimize the speed of the boat to 18 km per hour.
With the assistance of NIF the innovator has tied up with MATSYAFED and Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd., for commercialization of his innovation.
Serial Innovator: Hover Craft, Amphibious Craft, Rumble Strip for Generation of Electricity, Car Run with Compressed Air and others (National-3)
Assam: Kanak Gogoi (47, college dropout) started his own workshop at his house in 1996 to pursue creative experimentation. Some of the important prototypes that he and his workers have built are hover craft, amphibious craft, rumble strip for generation of electricity, small three wheel car, TrigoX, gravity bicycle, treadmill bike and hybrid car (run with electricity, solar energy and petrol), car run with compressed air; and others. The innovator is aiming at making his prototypes marketable. NIF facilitated participation of the innovator in a Fab Lab conference organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Chicago USA in 2007.
Energy and Environment
Biomass Gasification System (National-2)
Rajasthan: Raisingh Dahiya (46) learnt to repair agriculture equipments like pumps and allied machines by repairing gadgets.
Rai Singh has developed an efficient biomass gasifier. Users of biomass gas as a fuel for running engine complain of choking after running for a while. The innovator has changed the conventional design of gasifiers, especially the filters and cooling unit, to get clean gas, ensuring smooth operation of engine at a low operational cost. He makes customized gasifiers in the range of 5 -50 hp. He claims the wood requirement to be 30-35 per cent lower in his model than conventional gasifiers. Scientists from TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) have confirmed its uniqueness. Users have confirmed its operational practicability. The innovator has sold over fifty units after getting MVIF and marketing support from NIF through GIAN North. One unit has even been sold to an entrepreneur from Germany for trial use in Namibia, Africa.
Pollution Controlling Silencer (National-2)
Bihar: Birendra Kumar Sinha (58, higher secondary) is a self-taught welder and fabricator who makes gates and grills in his workshop ‘Kajal Steel.’
The diesel generator used by Birendra emitted a lot of flue gases and also created unwanted noise. For operating a welding machine, the innovator retrofitted a newly designed pollution control device to the exhaust pipe of the engine. His technology comprises a cylindrical housing in which exhaust gas is allowed to expand and strike over fins embedded over the internal surface of cylinder and perforated tubular fins. BIT Mesra, Ranchi has confirmed considerable reduction in the proportion of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the flue gases and the temperature after adding the device instead of conventional muffler. The temperature of the emitted gas was also reported to be significantly reduced. NIF also facilitated his interactions on the advice of 13th Finance Commision with officials of Chilika Development Authority and local fishermen who have been looking for innovative solutions for their noisy and pollution causing boat engines.
Mitticool and Earthern Kitchen Products
Gujarat: Mansukhbhai Prajapati (39, high school) has developed delighting kitchen gadgets out of clay. In the year 1998, he developed hand press for making earthen pans and later in 2003, when market was flooded with teflon coated non-stick metal pan costing Rs. 150 to 450, he came up with a cost-effective earthen pan with a black non-stick food grade coating. The rotis, dosas and other items taste better due to its non-metallic property.
Mitticool is a clay fridge in which evaporation of water dripping from the upper chambers cools the sides and gets evaporated leaving the chambers cool. This naturally keeps food, vegetables and even milk fresh for days together. The innovator has received national and international exposure and his innovation was mentioned in an issue of The Economist too. Mitticool has drawn the attention of a lot of individuals around the world who have sent queries about it including the world’s third largest refrigeration company based in Germany. He has also made a pressure cooker out of clay. Mansukhbhai was supported under the MVIF.
Household and General Utility
Rice Steep Draining Cooking Vessel and others
(National-2)
Tamil Nadu: Abdul Razzak (47, high school) has developed a range of innovations over the last two decades including burglar alarm system, phone with in-built charger, 360 degree fan, low cost lift system, intelligent letter-box with audio alarm and modified cooking vessel.
The innovator noticed that homemakers as well as caterers who cook rice in open vessels face difficulty in holding, tilting and carrying these open vessels. Moreover, pressure cookers don’t facilitate the draining of starch water, which can raise blood sugar and high blood pressure. Hence, Abdul came up with an idea to provide a perforated plate and an outflow pipe at the bottom of the conventional vessels, so that one can easily drain starch water once the cooking is over. The starch of course can be used for clothes and making papad and other snacks. He has also developed a double sided table fan, a ceiling fan that can revolve around a rail on the ceiling and has conceived numerous other ideas of utilities for day to day use. The innovator has been supported by MVIF of NIF for commercializing the modified vessel for cooking rice.
Automatic Pump Operator, Dehydrator, Agarbatti Dhoop Making Machine (National-2)
Manipur: Manihar Sharma (59, high school) has developed an automatic pump operating system (APO) with seven variants for filling up overhead water tanks and ground reservoirs. Using a central control panel, the pump switches on automatically as soon as the water level in the overhead reservoir goes below the threshold level, and switches off as soon as it gets full. The same principle follows for the ground reservoir as well. It can lend to and borrow from other tanks connected to it depending upon the usage. Manihar has also developed an agarbati dhoop making machine The device has two blade arrangements, one for making small bamboo splints and the other for making small sticks. For stick making, it has multi-bladed arrangements for different stick sizes. Both the blades are fixed on two sides of a small wooden bloke. A micro drill for small operations is another of his innovations. A simple dehydrator for drying vegetables is still under improvement.
The innovator was supported by MVIF scheme of NIF to commercialize the APO system. In his locality, he is better known as ‘Numit Kadoba’ (a man who would go to the sun) because of his eccentric nature and his single-minded devotion to his innovations. Readers may read more about Manihar’s struggle as well as philanthropic deeds in HB 19(4), 2008.
Electric Shock-Proof Converter (National-3)
Manipur: Kshetrimayum Nicholson Singh (23, high school pass) is self-employed in his electronic gadgets repairing store. As he faced problems in finding employment, he is very sensitive to the need of generating meaningful employment opportunities.
He has developed an innovative device which converts all electrical lines into shock-free power lines. This is a very useful device for every household/commercial establishment. The device can be installed just after the energy metre so that each and every connection in the building establishment gets connected to the device and becomes shock-free. Nicholson has also made a modified durable tube light choke and movable solar energy panel. He has also made improvement in many existing gadgets and is popularly known as ‘vishwakarma’ in his locality. He has been supported by IIT- Guwahati and GIAN-North East.
Cooker for Coffee (National-3)
Bihar: Mohammad Rozadin (46, illiterate) runs a workshop for repairing tyres, batteries and other items. Rozadin has modified the normal cooker to convert it into a coffee making machine. The modified cooker is used to boil water and generate steam through a long delivery pipe having a regulator; high pressure steam is used to make a frothy, tasty coffee.
The modified cooker has been in great demand and even small tea stall vendors from nearby districts have bought it for their shops. This innovation has improved the income of hundreds of tea vendors.
Read more about Rozadin’s innovative and affordable coffee-vending machine in HB 20(1): 7, 2009.
Plant Protection
Herbal Control of Termite in Groundnut Crop (National-2)
Gujarat: Nathubhai Patel (65, high school pass) is a farmer and owns around 2.6 ha (17.32 mu) sandy loam type land where he grows groundnut, cotton, pigeon pea, mustard, castor and maize mainly. Termite infestation is major problem in different crops and results in major losses. Nathubhai has developed a herbal formulation for termite control in groundnut crop.
He has used the fruits of a local herb and the leaves of neem. It is sprayed at the base of standing crop near the lower part of stem nearest to the ground. When tested against termites in Sadbhav-SRISTI Sanshodhan Laboratory, Ahmedabad, on treated wood of cactus, the extract was effective in controlling/eliminating the termites completely.
Plant Variety
Improved Varieties of Wheat, Paddy, Mustard and Pigeon Pea (National-1, joint)
Uttar Pradesh: Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi (49) believes that every farmer should get good quality seeds to produce high yielding varieties of crops. He has developed a number of improved wheat, paddy, mustard and pigeon pea varieties, which are high yielding, with robust stem, bold seeds, good taste and resistance to major pests & diseases.
The variety developed by him using simple method of selection is reported to be quite popular among the farmers in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and some parts of Bihar, Haryana and Punjab. It has larger number of ear bearing tillers with lengthy spikes and also has a hardy stem which prevents lodging. The average yield of this variety is 55-60 quintals per hectare. NIF has filed applications under the PPVFRA 2001 to register his pigeon pea (Kudrat 3) variety and wheat (Kudrat 7, Kudrat 9, Kudrat 11) varieties. A few others of his varieties are also in the pipeline.
New Varieties of Wheat, Rice and Pigeon Pea (National-1, joint)
Uttar Pradesh: Jai Prakash Singh (41) an enterprising farmer has five acres of land where he cultivates wheat, paddy, pigeon pea, mustard and bel (Aegle marmelos L. Correa) with the help of his wife and children. He has developed many improved varieties of wheat, rice and pigeon pea through recurrent selection of desirable plants and through crossing of the preferred parents. Virat (JP 6) is a new pigeon pea variety developed by him. It has coloured flowers, long leaves and bunchy type pods bearing at the top.
The seed weight (19 – 20 gram/ 100 seeds), number of pods per plant (500 - 600), big size pods (3 – 5 inch), number of seeds per pod (5 – 6) and perennial yield (1st year 12 -14 quintal/ acre and 2nd year 14 – 15 quintal/ acre) are higher as compared to the local popular variety. This variety requires less quantity of seed (4 – 5 kg/acre) and maintenance as compared to other varieties grown in the region. The process is on to get this variety registered under the PPVFRA 2001.
The innovator was supported under MVIF for commercializing his variety.
Groundnut Variety Dhiraj -101, Tolerant to Wilt due to Stem Rot (National-2)
Gujarat: Dhirajlal Thummar (38, high school) faced a crop failure of GG-20 variety of groundnut in the year 2004 due to wilt. This triggered a search for plants, which were not affected by wilt and might have inherent wilt resistance property. He sowed seeds of such plants separately in the next monsoon season and continued screening for three consecutive years. Finally he obtained plants, which were resistant to wilt due to stem rot. His new groundnut variety Dhiraj-101 yields one and a half times more than GG-20. It matures well even with average monsoon and less irrigation conditions. This variety matures eight to ten days earlier than GG-20. Field trial of this variety has been conducted in Oil Seed Research Station, Junagadh. The innovator has given the seeds to a few farmers in this season to try out.
Green, Bold and Fragrant: New Cardamom Variety ‘Panikulangara Green Bold No.1’ (National-3)
Kerala: Joy Peter (59, primary school) is a farmer and grows plantation crops like cardamom, pepper, coffee, vanilla, clove, nutmeg and areca nut. He was a businessman before he took to farming. A man of with a keen sense of curiosity and observation, he spent most of his time experimenting in his field so as to substantially increase the production and income from his farm.
He has developed a high yielding variety of cardamom from the land race vazhukka type of cardamom through selection followed by vegetative multiplication. This variety matures 75-80 days after flowering and is less prone to diseases and pests. Its green and dry capsule yields are 1500 kg per acre and 375 kg per acre respectively. The extent of flower dropping is also found to be lesser than the traditional variety. The capsules are bolder and the ripe ones retain green colour and size even after drying. Based on the performance, the former Director of Spices Board officially released the variety for distribution under the name ‘Pannikulangara Green Bold No.1’. Local papers have covered his innovation and All India Radio awarded him at Delhi for adopting modern agriculture techniques. Now that a part of formal sector has recognized the farmers breeding innovation, will scientists and policy makers also respond?
Yellow Mosaic Virus Resistant White Gourd Variety (National-3)
Kerala: A S Joy (32) is a farmer engaged in agriculture for the past twelve years. He has developed a Yellow Mosaic resistant white gourd variety by crossing a local variety with a resistant variety, followed by repeated selection. The newly developed variety takes 35-40 days to flower and 90-100 days to mature. The average weight per fruit is 12 kg during monsoon and 4-6 kg during summers. The average yield is 250 quintal per hectare with the average yield per plant being 10 kg per plant. It is a short duration variety and has a good cooking quality. Dark green colour of the leaves is a major specialty of this variety. NIF facilitated the evaluation of the variety at Kerala Agricultural University which has found it very promising.
Student Awards
B&W Picture Tube Charger, Modified Rat-Trap, and Magnetic Weighing Balance (National-1, joint)
Bihar: Meraj Ahmed (23, student) has developed a charging device for the picture tube of black and white TV giving unclear visual display. He studied the mechanics of the tube from his engineer brother’s book and experimented on his own TV. His device charges a picture tube in two minutes and costs Rs. 100. He has also developed a rat-trap which sets a siren when a rat is trapped. There is a zig-zag path in the machine so that the rat cannot escape after pulling the bread and gets trapped. The innovator has also developed a magnetic weighing machine in which there is no need of any spring or weight. A patent has been filed through NIF for his picture tube charger.
Automatic Stopper for LPG Gas Stove (National-1, joint)
Karnataka: Dawalsaab Mahamadgows (18, higher secondary Science student) has developed a device which will turn off the gas regulator in an LPG stove when cooking is over, as per the pre-set time. It thus helps one avoid overcooking the food and also saves fuel. This machine also counts and displays the number of whistles a pressure cooker has made. What big gas companies could not do, this young boy has done. He is awaiting these companies to contact him for licensing the technology and taking it to market.
Modified Silencer for Increasing Mileage (National-2, joint)
Madhya Pradesh: Bhagwan Singh Vishwawakarma (23, student) is interested in the areas of electronics, mechanics and civil. His creativity reflects in the way he used cylindrical wooden boxes discarded as junk by his mother as his laboratory possession and used them to modify the silencer of a two-wheeler. This modified silencer uses part of the exhaust gas to pre-heat the intake air, leading to increased combustion efficiency of the engine, which ultimately leads to reported 25-30 percent increase in mileage and reduction in the noise of the vehicle. NIF facilitated the testing of his silencer at BIT, Mesra, corroborating his claims of the innovator. He has developed many other items like battery operated bicycle, a multi-purpose harvester, multi-purpose jogging machine, amongst others. |
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 20(3); 9-14, 2009 |
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